Drivers

FMCSA New Initiative to Validate Driver Medical Cards

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration announced that it and its state partners will be conducting random verifications of driver Medical Examiner's Certificates during enforcement activities.

The purpose of these validations is to obtain verbal confirmation that the medical examination was conducted and the information on the Medical Examination Certificate is accurate. It is not to evaluate the driver's medical fitness to operate a commercial vehicle.

FMCSA will take the following steps to validate the authenticity of MECs:

1. Contact the Medical Examiner's office at the telephone number indicated on the certificate;

2. Explain the inquiry's purpose and indicate that it is intended solely to confirm that the document presented by the driver matches the records maintained by the ME. Direct contact with the actual ME is not required - an authorized staff member may provide the requested information; and

3. Provide the driver's name and date of birth, the date of issuance of the MEC and any restrictions indicated thereon and request verbal confirmation of the information provided.